20 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid

Ninety percent of 10,500 cosmetics and skincare products have NOT been evaluated for safety by the FDA, Cosmetic Ingredient Review or other 3rd party according the the Environmental Working Group. 1,110 personal product ingredients have been banned in Europe, however only 10 are banned in the United States. These banned substances in Europe can cause birth defects, irritation, allergic reactions, infertility, hormone disruptions and possibly cancer.

Coal Tar: A known carcinogen banned in the EU, but still used in North America. Used in dry skin treatments, anti-lice and anti-dandruff shampoos, also listed as a colour plus number, i.e. FD&C Red No. 6.

Ethoxylated surfactants and 1,4-dioxane: Never listed because it’s a by-product made from adding carcinogenic ethylene oxide to make other chemicals less harsh. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found 1,4-dioxane in 57 percent of baby washes in the U.S. Avoid any ingredients containing the letters “eth.”